Last night one of Alexis' co-workers came over for dinner and afterward on a whim, we all ended up driving 15 miles to the nearest skating rink. We skated like dorks, laughed at ourselves, and had a hilarious time.

The concrete block really helps soften the blow of crashes.

So last night, as I was going to sleep and feeling my back & hips tighten up (wait, I don't remember THAT when skating back in 1980), I recalled the smell of the snack bar. Then I started thinking of ways to make a pizza appetizer on the grill. I thought of doing some kind of a pizza puff......

But wasn't sure if I wanted to use pizza dough, crescent roll dough, or puff pastry. So I decided to test out all three in a "proof of concept" kind of way. I'll write out the recipe for how I did the puff pastry. The ingredient quantities are estimates. This is snack food, not rocket science. Just eyeball it!

These are easy finger food and would be ideal for tailgates, parties, or heck, if you happen to run a skating rink.

Top each puff pastry square with cheese, about 1/2 tsp of pizza sauce and a slice of sausage. Fold top over. Top with grated Parmesan cheese.

Place on pizza stone and cook for 10 minutes.

Whisk the egg, Italian seasoning, and 1 Tbsp of cold water together for an egg wash. Brush onto the tops of the pizza puffs.

Cook another 5 minutes or until golden brown and then remove to a cooling rack.

Serve with extra pizza sauce for dipping

Notes

Pizza flavored smoked sausage - These were perfect for this but they are a limited release from Johnsonville right now. If you can't find them in your area, you can use another smoked sausage or pepperoni.

Pizza sauce - I just used a jarred sauce but use your favorite homemade or commercial one. I hope to have my neighbor do a pizza tutorial post at some point, he is the pizza king around here. He does one on his Big Green Egg at least once a week.

These new sausages have chunks of cheese, tomato, and pizza seasonings already built in.

I tested some with chunks of mozzarella and some shredded, not a big difference either way.

Top with grated Parmesan or Pecorino-Romano.

You can also do this in a 400f oven but the wood coals make it even better.

For the pizza dough ones, I crimped the edges shut whereas I left them open for the puff pastry.

Pizza dough version

Crescent roll version

Puff pastry version

The puff pastry ones were my favorite. The flaky layers just make the appetizer so light and airy. The crescent rolls were my second preference and had a noticeably different taste. But it turns out, that's all it is - preference. Others in my family liked the pizza crust ones or crescent roll ones the best. It all depends on what you like.

[Standard FTC Disclaimer] I have a business relationship with Johnsonville as a sponsor of my blog and received the new sausages free of charge. I have full editorial control of my blog and the opinions stated are my own.

[Non-Standard FTC Disclaimer] I have no affiliation with the American Skating Rink Association (ASRA), the American Association of Skating Rinks (AASR), or the United Brotherhood of Skating Rink Snack Bar Workers #109.

Update: MyBizzyKitchen - They are out in limited markets right now but here is what to look for. They should be by the other Johnsonville smoked grilling links in the meat department. They might not be right next to the raw bratwursts.

Your second disclaimer totally cracked me up, Chris. Curiosity has the best of me now and I'm headed to google to see if there really is a United Brotherhood for Snack Bar Workers. ha ha. These puffs actually look delicious. I love when something that crosses your mind on a whim turns out so well! Way to go on the skates. I can't even remember the last time I tried that.

Oh my hell - they LET you onto the rink?!? Were you drunk? Isn't there some kind of age-limit? Did you get an Senior/AARP discount? Were there young kids there to laugh and humiliate you? I think the smoke is finally getting to you...might want to install some fans and wear a mask, smoke damage has been known to cause all kinds of brain issues, delusions come to mind...and obviously did in yours! Now, onto the serious stuff...the pizza puffs look great - will make some for tomorrow night's football game where the Seahawks will attempt ANOTHER win!

Awesome finger foods, Chris and what a hilarious story to go along with it. Loved the second disclaimer. I tried making puff pastry pizzas back in February. Worked out ok, but after taking them off the egg, the toppings caused them to deflate. I could see where folding them over might work around that idea. Now I need to revist that idea. Thanks for giving me some new finger foods to try out.

What Mary said about the disclaimer. Your puffs look totally delicious and will need to be tried. When I was a kid the roller rink 4 blocks away was the only thing to do in the winter so I did it 3-4 tims a week. Haven't been in about 20 years and imagine I'm a little top heavy now.

Here's an update for you...I did make these - and they were great! I used puff pastry, I figure if I'm going to be puffier after eating them I might as well get a head start. We stuffed ourselves on all kinds of "game food" but these were are favorite - thanks! Oh, about the game...did you see the Seahawks steal the win from the Packers? As Seahawks fans, we were totally embarrassed...but hey, a win is a win! Okay to repost about the pizza puffs? I think my readers will love them!

Oh, the puffs look fabulous!!! They'd be a great reward if I were to survive the skating - grace is not on my list of attributes. I last went skating in 1979, I think; I ended up on one of those wretched "couple's skates" to K.C. and Teri DeSario singing "Yes, I'm Ready." Yeesh!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbVA6vcas1o

YUM!! What a great idea! (and I am NOT a hot pocket kind of person). and i'm chuckling at your photo...I totally remember hanging out at the roller rink (Starlight Roller Rink). I even had my own pair of "tennis shoe" roller skates. Two tone blue. Wow...memories. Best of all...roller skating along Venice Beach.

You totally crack me up Chris and so do some of the comments! I vote for the puff pastry and think I will try these for game time tomorrow - yum! The skating I will pass on, I'd probably break a hip or something ;)

LOL over your disclaimers. And I'm very glad to know that. Love the photo too. Too funny. I think the last time I skated was about 20 years ago. Some kid plowed into me from behind and I went down. Hard. Lived to tell about it. I'm loving these little pizza things. I swear my Safeway doesn't have these flavored Johnsonville Brats. Who do I complain to? The NAGS? (National Association of Grocery Stores)